Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots

Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots
Author: Frank Hood
Publisher:
Total Pages: 480
Release: 2019-02-23
Genre:
ISBN: 9780368342585

Would you like to know all about the inner workings of a U.S attack submarine? This nonfiction book, told through the eyes of the personal experiences of one of the authors, and greatly expanded now in its third edition with the input of dozens of other submarine veterans, explains how submarines are designed, built, manned, and operated. Key concepts such as buoyancy, navigation, periscope function, sonar and weapons are discussed in detail. You'll enjoy the format of this coming-of-age story of a young Navy man during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and along the way you'll learn about the intense training required for nuclear submarine service. Then you'll come aboard as the narrative turns to day-to-day details of life aboard a submarine--the missions, the routines, the psychological pressures, and the deprivations of living underwater for weeks at a time. The Silent Service, as this group is known, has a wonderful human story that has largely escaped the public domain, in part because of the classified nature of their missions. This book eschews the covert details and instead dwells on the human-interest side of submarine service. Filled with wonderful stories--some hilarious, others sad--and buttressed by 19 historical submarine essays, over 100 photos, and a detailed glossary of terminology, the book is a compelling read that will inform you and give you a newfound pride in the men and women who maintain our sea defenses 24/7. Also, all proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the Scholarship Fund of the USSVI. Makes a great gift for that Navy veteran in your life!

Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots

Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots
Author: Charles Hood
Publisher:
Total Pages: 438
Release: 2020-01-21
Genre:
ISBN:

The new and improved fourth edition of the well-received Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots benefits from comprehensive overhauls of all chapters. Over 1,000 changes were made to improve syntax, accuracy, and clarity. A few remaining historical, technical, and spelling errors from the third edition were corrected as well. The authors, Frank and Charles Hood, relied on the collective expertise of two dozen veteran submariners to help with proper language choices and more detailed explanations of key concepts. The submarine glossary has been expanded by 50%. The layout has been improved as well, resulting in a handsome publication that belongs on the bookshelf of any aficionado of submarine history.Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots is a semi-autobiographic trip through the process of training and deployment aboard a fast-attack nuclear submarine during the height of the Cold War. The reader follows Frank's progression through NROTC at Purdue, his unforgettable interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, commissioning into the U.S. Navy at college graduation, and intensive post-graduate training stints at Mare Island, Idaho Falls, and Groton on the way to his assignment as a junior nuclear officer aboard the USS Seahorse (SSN-669) based out of Charleston. Filled with tremendous detail that touches upon many of the relevant cultural touchstones of the late 1960s, the story hits its stride with vivid descriptions of life aboard a nuclear submarine. More focused on the day-to-day rather than the cloak-and-dagger, Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots capitalizes upon Frank's journey aboard the Seahorse to explain many key concepts of submarine operation: staffing and organization, weapons systems, sonar, periscope function, communications, and much more. The reader will learn in clear language how Admiral Rickover oversaw the implementation of nuclear technology aboard submarines; how a submarine nuclear reactor functions; how submarines manipulate buoyancy to vary depth; how a target is acquired before torpedo firing; and how important sound analysis is for surveillance. Additional topics of discussion include food storage and preparation, the qualification process (earning one's dolphins), the challenges of polar navigation, the generation of oxygen and water necessary for life, and the process of arriving in port.Some very significant personal events, both happy and tragic, affected Frank during his four-year period of service, and these are described in poignant detail as well. The reader is also provided with a rich tapestry of interesting submarine history along the way. Through engaging storytelling--drawn from Frank's experiences aboard the Seahorse--the reader will gain tremendous insight into the whole ethos of submarines. This memoir provides a rare glimpse inside a world that few others have any familiarity or understanding.The story is greatly enhanced by more than 100 fully captioned photographs as well as a detailed cutaway of the Seahorse to give the reader a useful visual aid while reading about the virtual walking tour aboard the submarine. Finally, the fourth edition features 13 original "interlude" stories scattered among the chapters; these vignettes explore specific historical topics important to the legacy of the Submarine Force. All profits from the book have been donated to a single charity since the very first book was sold in 2018. As of January 2020, more than $27,000 has been raised through sales of Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots, and all donated funds are earmarked for the Scholarship Fund of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI). This fund primarily assists family members of submarine veterans with tuition expenses, among other philanthropic aims. The authors are proud of this affiliation, and readers who buy the book can rest assured that their purchase will count toward this ever-increasing total.

Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots: Tales of a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War

Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots: Tales of a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War
Author: Charles Hood Frank
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2019-02-23
Genre:
ISBN: 9780368344978

Would you like to know all about the inner workings of a U.S attack submarine? This nonfiction book, told through the eyes of the personal experiences of one of the authors, and greatly expanded now in its third edition with the input of dozens of other submarine veterans, explains how submarines are designed, built, manned, and operated. Key concepts such as buoyancy, navigation, periscope function, sonar and weapons are discussed in detail. You'll enjoy the format of this coming-of-age story of a young Navy man during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and along the way you'll learn about the intense training required for nuclear submarine service. Then you'll come aboard as the narrative turns to day-to-day details of life aboard a submarine--the missions, the routines, the psychological pressures, and the deprivations of living underwater for weeks at a time. The Silent Service, as this group is known, has a wonderful human story that has largely escaped the public domain, in part because of the classified nature of their missions. This book eschews the covert details and instead dwells on the human-interest side of submarine service. Filled with wonderful stories--some hilarious, others sad--and buttressed by 19 historical submarine essays, over 100 photos, and a detailed glossary of terminology, the book is a compelling read that will inform you and give you a newfound pride in the men and women who maintain our sea defenses 24/7. Also, all proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the Scholarship Fund of the USSVI. Makes a great gift for that Navy veteran in your life!

Admiral Hyman Rickover

Admiral Hyman Rickover
Author: Marc Wortman
Publisher: Yale University Press
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2022-01-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 0300243103

A riveting exploration of the brilliant, combative, and controversial "Father of the Nuclear Navy" "Marc Wortman delivers a 17-gun salute to this short, profane spitfire who pulled a reluctant Navy into the atomic era. . . . Wortman opens a window into the life of an intellectual titan disdainful of nearly everything except scientific honesty, his adopted nation, and the power of the atom."--Jonathan W. Jordan, Wall Street Journal Known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy," Admiral Hyman George Rickover (1899-1986) remains an almost mythical figure in the United States Navy. A brilliant engineer with a ferocious will and combative personality, he oversaw the invention of the world's first practical nuclear power reactor. As important as the transition from sail to steam, his development of nuclear-propelled submarines and ships transformed naval power and Cold War strategy. They still influence world affairs today. His disdain for naval regulations, indifference to the chain of command, and harsh, insulting language earned him enemies in the navy, but his achievements won him powerful friends in Congress and the White House. A Jew born in a Polish shtetl, Rickover ultimately became the longest-serving U.S. military officer in history. In this exciting new biography, historian Marc Wortman explores the constant conflict Rickover faced and provoked, tracing how he revolutionized the navy and Cold War strategy.

A City on Mars

A City on Mars
Author: Kelly Weinersmith
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 449
Release: 2023-11-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1984881736

* THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Scientific American’s #1 Book for 2023 * A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice * A Times Best Science and Environment Book of 2023 * “Exceptional. . . Forceful, engaging and funny . . . This book will make you happy to live on this planet — a good thing, because you’re not leaving anytime soon.” —New York Times Book Review From the bestselling authors of Soonish, a brilliant and hilarious off-world investigation into space settlement Earth is not well. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away—no climate change, no war, no Twitter—beckons, and settling the stars finally seems within our grasp. Or is it? Critically acclaimed, bestselling authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements, but after years of research, they aren’t so sure it’s a good idea. Space technologies and space business are progressing fast, but we lack the knowledge needed to have space kids, build space farms, and create space nations in a way that doesn’t spark conflict back home. In a world hurtling toward human expansion into space, A City on Mars investigates whether the dream of new worlds won’t create nightmares, both for settlers and the people they leave behind. In the process, the Weinersmiths answer every question about space you’ve ever wondered about, and many you’ve never considered: Can you make babies in space? Should corporations govern space settlements? What about space war? Are we headed for a housing crisis on the Moon’s Peaks of Eternal Light—and what happens if you’re left in the Craters of Eternal Darkness? Why do astronauts love taco sauce? Speaking of meals, what’s the legal status of space cannibalism? With deep expertise, a winning sense of humor, and art from the beloved creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the Weinersmiths investigate perhaps the biggest questions humanity will ever ask itself—whether and how to become multiplanetary. Get in, we’re going to Mars.

Sub Tales

Sub Tales
Author: Frank Hood
Publisher:
Total Pages: 438
Release: 2019-12-11
Genre:
ISBN: 9781673795288

Charles Hood and Frank Hood, the co-authors of the popular book Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots, are pleased to announce the release of their follow-up volume, entitled Sub Tales: Stories That Seldom Surface. The new book presents a fascinating compendium of stand-alone stories drawn from the rich annals of American submarine history. Painstakingly researched and vetted, many of these stories are not widely known by even veteran submariners. Broken into sections based on content, Sub Tales explores a variety of topics ranging from the tragic sinking of the USS F-4 in 1915 to the inspiring survival story of George Rocek during World War II. Individuals highlighted in separate chapters include Admiral Chester Nimitz, Captain John Wesley Harvey, and four U.S. presidents, whose visits aboard submarines are described with proper historical context. Additional topics discussed include ordeals at sea, such as the improbable rescue of a Filipino sailor from the North Atlantic Ocean by the USS Scamp in 1987 and the daring landing of a stricken Navy helicopter aboard the USS Corporal in 1956. Lighter fare includes a discussion of the filming of the 1959 movie Operation Petticoat aboard a submarine painted pink, an explanation of submarine pay over the years, and the first baseball game played at the North Pole in 1960. Essays discussing the heavy-handed plot to steal the USS Trepang in the late 1970s, the novel delivery of U.S. mail using a submarine-launched missile in 1959, and the genesis of Dick O'Kane's lucky cribbage board are among the 35 original stories presented in Sub Tales. All stories have been thoroughly reviewed and edited by more than twenty submarine veterans from all boats, disciplines, and eras. The addition of these men to the editorial process helped immeasurably to assure both technical and historical accuracy as well as the proper use of naval terminology. In several stories, the gripping narratives are further enhanced by the inclusion of first-hand perspectives, provided by the very men who participated in these important slices of history. Capping off the book is an intriguing set of submarine "lists" gleaned from the vast readership of the authors' Facebook page ("Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots"). These lists are compilations of responses to such weighty questions as "What one trait learned aboard the boats served you well after the service?" and "What is the one aspect of submarine duty that you struggle the most to explain to a civilian?"More than 130 photographs are included, fully captioned, to amplify the written material for each chapter. By popular demand, the essay "How to Spot a Brother of the 'Phin" is reprinted from the Hoods' first book, along with expanded versions of stories recounting the USS Squalus rescue of 1939, the experimental nature of the USS Albacore in the 1950s, and the refuge sought by the USS Narwhal at the bottom of the Cooper River during a hurricane in 1989. The Hoods have organized this book for opening randomly at any chapter and becoming absorbed by a new story. The stories are grouped by general topic but do not follow any sequence, making Sub Tales that perfect bedtime companion for a short story or two before sleeping. A great gift for the veteran submariner, Sub Tales is also engrossing reading for anyone who with an interest in the U.S. Submarine Force. As with the first book, all profits from the sale of Sub Tales are earmarked for the Scholarship Fund of the USSVI. This fund awards stipends to deserving family members of veteran submariners to help defray college tuition expenses. The response to Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots has been overwhelmingly positive, and proceeds from book sales have resulted in the cumulative donation of more than $26,000 to this fund as of December 2019. Not only will you thoroughly enjoy reading Sub Tales but also you will be helping out a very worthy and appropriate philanthropic effort. Thank you for your support!

Stalking the Red Bear

Stalking the Red Bear
Author: Peter T. Sasgen
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2009-03-17
Genre: History
ISBN: 0312380232

This is the untold story of a covert submarine espionage operation against the Soviet Union during the Cold War as experienced by the commanding officer of an active submarine. b&w photo insert.

Once a Fool -- from Tokyo to Alaska by Amphibious Jeep

Once a Fool -- from Tokyo to Alaska by Amphibious Jeep
Author: Boye De Mente
Publisher: Cultural-Insight Books
Total Pages: 175
Release: 2005-06
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0914778048

One of the most remarkable adventures on record, ONCE A FOOL -- From Tokyo to Alaska by American journalist Boye Lafayette De Mente recounts his experiences aboard the the jeep Half-Safe, with Australian Ben Carlin--a voyage that took precisely four months and involved encounters with Russians, Japanese fishing nets, huge walruses, a tidal wave, a Yellow Monster, water colder than ice, and each other! One of the most publicized ocean-crossings in the 20th century, the story of the globe-circling amphibious jeep is in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Submarines

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Submarines
Author: Michael DiMercurio
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 388
Release: 2002-12-23
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 9780028644714

Presents information about submarines, from providing a room-by-room tour of a typical vessel to analyzing the history of submarines during wars and on maneuvers.